We have all experienced the pain of being left out, overlooked, found wanting, publicly diminished, having our most precious self exposed and mocked. (Right? Am I alone in this?) The announcements of World Cup preliminary rosters by most nations have sparked debate over notable snubs. It is hard not to feel for athletes whose entire lives have been shaped by the hope of World Cup glory; but instead of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they’re treated to a cold splash of “Non merci.”

The news has had a few days to settle in, and I’m sure it isn’t getting any easier for Anthony Martial, Dimitri Payet, and Alexandre Lacazette. While this triumvirate of woe is particularly talented, their exclusion reinforces France’s status as a tournament favorite and reiterates Didier Deschamps’s team-first mentality. “I’ve stuck with players who responded to my trust,” he said. “I put the group on top of everything and from there I make choices [that] in my...